Books, Historical Documents, and Ephemera -- Burns Bizarre specializes in the eclectic. Most of our stock is rare or out-of-print - dating from the 18th century to the present. We do not sell reprint editions, book club editions, or print-on-demand items. The name Burns Bizarre comes from one our father's enterprises in Chicago during the 1930's -- we are proud to continue his tradition of what is now eighty years of selling things people could easily live without.

We guarantee the condition of every book as described. If we shipped you the wrong book or it is Not as Described/Damaged) you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date.

As collectors ourselves, we know that sometimes a book arrives that just isn't quite what we expected, even though it was accurately described. We will refund those too, but in that case, we would like you to contact us within 14 days so we can get it back and relist it promptly. If you've simply cha...

We ship via U.S. Postal Service. Shipping costs are based on an average weight, including packaging, of 2 LB, or 1 KG. We don't charge extra if you are somewhat above that, but If your book is very heavy or special handling is required we may add an extra shipping charge. This usually occurs only for books being shipped via priority mail or internationally; the extra cost for shipping can make the difference in whether we make a profit or take a loss on the sale. We will always contact you first to get your approval for the extra charge. Sometimes shipping doesn't cost as much as we estimate -- if it's a negligible amount we just let it be but if it is substantial, we refund the excess shipping. If you prefer shipping via UPS, Fedex or DHL instead, contact us for a quote.

INSURANCE: Except for very rare or costly items, we do not insure our shipments beyond the small amount USPS already provides for priority mail shipments only. Because lost packages are so rare, the cost of insurance for less costly items is more than the acceptable risk -- especially given the hassle and paperwork of trying to collect the insurance. This is especially true for international shipments. If we feel insurance is appropriate, we will quote you the extra cost for adding it.

For truly rare items, we may substitute UPS, FedEx, or DHL for the added tracking and security they provide. Depending upon the item, we may absorb the extra cost or we may quote you a higher rate.